Barrel-type bucket reclaimer

ABSTRACT

An outer tubular body means carries a plurality of buckets disposed in annular rows thereabout. An inner tubular body means is interconnected with the outer tubular body means by channeldefining means which define channels each of which extends at an angle to a radius of the body means extending through the center of a channel. A longitudinally extending conveyor means is disposed within the inner body means. Twin buckets may be mounted in pairs to operate in opposite directions of rotation of the body means, and these buckets may be tiltable about an axis extending parallel with the longitudinal axis of the body means. The buckets may also include a cutting means as well as a flexible backwall.

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tates Patent i 13,s12,24s

[72] Inventors lPaul Elze Uffeln; Wilhelm Sch'a'psmeier, Holzhausen, Porta, both of Germany [21] Appl. No. 809,173 [22] Filed Mar. 21, 1969 [45] Patented Oct. 12, 1971 [73] Assignee Eisenwerk Weserhutte A.G. Mindener Strasse, Germany [32] Priority Mar. 21, 1968 [33] Germany [31] P117 56 021.3

[54] BARREL-TYPE BUCKET RECLAHMEIR 8 Claims, 7 Drawing Figs.

[52] 10.8. C1 198/36, 37/190,214/10,198/141,198/211 [51] Int. Cl 865g 59/00 [50] Field of Search 214/10; 198/9, 36; 37/189, 189 B, 189 W, 190, 190 B, 190 W [56] References Cited FOREIGN PATENTS 1,022,969 1/1958 Germany 37/190 B Primary Examiner-Gerald M. Forlenza Assistant Examiner-Frank E. Werner Attorney-James E. Bryan ABSTRACT: An outer tubular body means carries a plurality of buckets disposed in annular rows thereabout. An inner tubular body means is interconnected with the outer tubular body means by channel-defining means which define channels each of which extends at an angle to a radius of the body means extending through the center of a channel. A longitudinally extending conveyor means is disposed within the inner body means. Twin buckets may be mounted in pairs to operate in opposite directions of rotation of the body means, and these buckets may be tiltable about an axis extending parallel with the longitudinal axis of the body means. The buckets may also include a cutting means as well as a flexible backwall.

PATENTED 0m 1 2 I9?! saw 1 DF 2 PAUL ELZE a WILHELM SCHAPSMEHER BARREL-TYPE BUCKET RECLAIMER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Reclaimers of many different designs are employed for reclaiming stockpiles and bulk materials such as coal, ore, sand and gravel, and the like.

One sort of reclaiming equipment now in use comprises a barrel-type unit having buckets supported on the exterior thereof. As the barrellike body means rotates about its longitudinal axis, the reclaimer is continuously moved toward an associated stockpile whereby the buckets supported thereon reclaim the material, the buckets discharging such material into the interior of the body means when they reach the upper portion of the apparatus. A belt conveyor extends longitudinally within the body means for conveying the material outwardly through an end portion of the barrellike body means.

As compared with other types of reclaiming equipment, barrel-type bucket reclaimers have the great advantage that material is reclaimed from an associated stockpile uniformly and simultaneously over its entire cross section thus ensuring an optimum blending effect of the material of the stockpile.

The principal disadvantage of barrel-type bucket reclaimers is the fact that due to the necessity of providing stiffening members within the body means thereof in order to provide the desired degree of strength and rigidity, many edges, corners, and dead areas are provided which tend to accumulate considerable amounts of reclaimed material. This accumulation is principally due to the fact that when the buckets arrive at the point of discharge at the upper part of the apparatus, they are in motion so that the material is not properly discharged onto the conveyor provided within the body means.

Prior art barrel-type bucket reclaimers can only be effectively operated in one direction of rotation thereof. If a reclaimer of this type is employed with two stockpiles of different materials, for example, it is necessary to place the two stockpiles alongside one another and to displace the reclaiming unit in front of the two stockpiles to be used alternately with one of the other of the piles by employing a displacement platform or the like.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In the present invention, an outer tubular body means is provided in surrounding relationship to an inner tubular body means. The outer tubular body means carries bucket means, and the inner tubular body means is rigidly interconnected with the outer tubular body means by channel-defining means which define channels in communication with the buckets, these channels each having a central axis which forms an angle with a radius of the body means extending through the center of the channel means. Material is discharged from the bucket means through the channels and into the interior of the inner body means to fall upon a conveyor means extending longitudinally of the apparatus.

The channel-defining means thereby perform a dual function in that they serve to guide the material from the bucket means into the interior of the apparatus and, furthermore, serve as rigid interconnecting means between the inner and outer body means. As a result, an enclosed smooth-walled chamber is formed inside the inner body means so that accumulation of claimed material therewithin is eliminated. The space defined between the two tubular body means is free and unobstructed except for the channel-defining portions which provide the sole connection means between the two body means.

The buckets are disposed about the periphery of the outer body means in a plurality of annular rows, the channels in communication with such buckets also being disposed in cor responding annular rows thereby providing simple and easily controllable static conditions.

Stiffening and reinforcement must be greater in the central area of the reclaimer body means than in the lateral areas thereof. Additionally, the section of the stockpiles is generally conical or trapezoidal so that fewer buckets are required in the outer lateral portions of the reclaimer than in the central portion thereof. Accordingly, the rows of buckets at the central portion of the reclaimer are provided with a greater number of buckets and associated channel-defining means than are the rows of buckets in the lateral portions of the reclaimer whereby the central area of the reclaimer is strengthened and rigidificd. The number of buckets in the rows on the reclaimer also vary in accordance with the crosssectional area of an associated stockpile.

Ploughshare means are also supported on the outer body means adjacent the spaced buckets to ensure that the material between the rows of buckets will be fed into the individual buckets.

The present invention also contemplates an arrangement wherein buckets are provided which are operative in opposite directions of rotation of the body means of the reclaimer. Accordingly, if it is desired to operate with two difierent stockpiles, these stockpiles do not have to be placed side by side, but with the present invention the reclaimer can be placed between two stockpiles disposed opposite one another and along an axis parallel with the direction of the movement of the reclaimer as it advances toward or away from the stockpiles. The external buckets may be disposed in opposite ly directed pairs about the periphery of the outer body means in order to enable operation of the reclaimer in opposite directions of rotation thereof.

The externally mounted pairs of buckets may also be mounted for pivotal movement with respect to the body means about axes extending substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis of the tubular body means themselves.

In a modified form of the invention, the buckets include cutting means which is operative in both directions of rotation of the apparatus, and the bucket backwall in this form of the invention is formed as a flexible means so that it can be deformed to effectively operate in either direction of rotation of the body means.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is an overall view of a barrel-type bucket reclaimer according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is an elevation of the rotatable portion of the reclaimer illustrating the manner in which the buckets are disposed about the periphery of the outer tubular body means, FIG. 3 is a plan view of the outer body means shown in flattened condition to illustrate the manner in which the buckets are disposed in rows thereof, FIG. 4 is a transverse section through the bucket reclaimer, FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 illustrating a modified form of the invention, and FIGS. 6 and 7 are enlarged sectional views through other forms of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, a first form of the invention is illustrated in FIGS. l4l inclusive. A body means indicated generally by reference numeral 10 is rotatably supported in a conventional manner on a framework 12 carried by wheeled trucks 14 which are movable along suitable supporting tracks or the like.

The rotatable body means includes an outer tubular body means 20 having a plurality of buckets 22 carried on the outer periphery thereof. Each of these outer buckets includes an open side 24 for receiving reclaimed material, this open side being flanked by a pair of ploughshare means 26 at opposite sides of the bucket to ensure that material between the rows of buckets is fed into the individual buckets. These ploughshare means may be provided at either one or both sides of the individual buckets.

As seen particularly in FIGS. 2 and 3, the buckets 24 are arranged in a plurality of rows, the buckets being illustrated as disposed in nine rows extending periphera'lly about body means 20. The three rows at the central portion of the body means each have six buckets therein, and the rows laterally outwardly thereof have three, two and one buckets, respectively, therein whereby the greatest number of buckets are disposed at the central part of the rotatable body means with fewer buckets disposed at the portions laterally outwardly thereof for the purposes hereinbefore described.

As seen most clearly in FIG. 4, the rotatable body means also includes an inner tubular body means 30 disposed substantially concentric with the outer tubular body means 20, each of these tubular body means being of generally cylindrical cross-sectional configuration.

A plurality of channel-defining means 32 are provided between the inner and outer tubular body means. These channel-defining means define channels each of which is in communication with one of the aforedescribed buckets. These channels provide a path along which reclaimed material is discharged from the buckets into the interior of the body means. The channel-defining means 32 also serve as the sole means of interconnection between the inner and outer tubular body means, the channel-defining means serving as a rigid interconnection to hold the tubular body means in the assembled relationship illustrated.

Each of the channels defined by the channel-defining means defines an angle a as shown in FIG. 4 with respect to a radius of the body means extending through the center of the channel means.

When the buckets reach the upper portion of the apparatus, material is discharged from the buckets downwardly through an associated channel to impinge upon a pair of downwardly tapering walls 40 which direct the material onto a conveyor means which extends parallel with the axis of the body means. The conveyor means as illustrated includes an endless conveyor belt defining an upper flight 50 and a lower return flight 52, these flights being supported on the usual rollers and operating in a conventional manner for conveying material received from the buckets laterally of the apparatus through an end portion of the body means.

Referring now to FIG. of the drawings, a modification is illustrated including an outer tubular body means 60 carrying a first plurality of buckets 62 having an open side 64 and a second plurality of buckets 66 having an open side 68. The buckets 62 and 66 are arranged in pairs and are adapted to function alternately in opposite directions of rotation of the apparatus.

An inner tubular body means 69 is disposed in concentric relationship to the outer tubular body means 60 and is rigidly interconnected therewith by a first plurality of channel-defining means 70 and a second plurality of channel-defining means 72. Channel-defining means 70 provide channels in communication with the buckets 64, and channel-defining means 72 define channels in communication with the buckets 66. These channels define an angle similar to angle a previously described with respect to a radius of the body means extending through the center of each of the channels.

Material is discharged from the channels downwardly onto sloping walls and a conveyor mechanism similar to that described in connection with FIG. 4, and corresponding parts have been given the same reference numerals primed.

Referring now to FIG. 6 of the drawings, still another form of the invention is illustrated. An outer tubular body means 80 is disposed concentric with an inner tubular body means 82, these two tubular body means being rigidly interconnected by channel-defining means 84 which define channels similar to those previously described.

In this form of the invention, each of the bucket means illustrated generally by reference numeral 90 may be swingable with respect to the body means. Each bucket means includes side members 92 joined by backwall portions 94 of arcuate configuration, each bucket assembly being mounted for swinging movement about a pivot axis 96 extending substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis of the body means.

Bucket means shown in F IG. 6 is illustrated in solid lines in the operative position which it will assume when the body means is rotated in a clockwise direction. The phantom line position of the bucket means as shown in FIG. 6 illustrates the position the bucket means will assume when the body means is rotated in a counterclockwise direction.

Referring now to FIG. 7, another form of the invention is illustrated. An outer tubular means 100 is provided concentric with an inner tubular body means 102, the two tubular body means being rigidly interconnected with one another by channel-defining means 104 which define channels similar to those previously described.

In this form of the invention, each of the bucket means includes side members forming a cutting knife construction or member, these side members being joined by a crossmember 112.

The bucket backwall is formed by a flexible member 114 which is adapted to assume a particular configuration in accordance with the direction of rotation of the body means. The backwall member 114 may, for example, comprise a flexible chain construction as illustrated, or may comprise a movable mat and similar resilient arrangements.

As shown in solid lines in FIG. 7, the resilient backwall member 114 is in the position it will assume when the body means is rotated in a clockwise direction. The phantom line position P as shown in FIG. 7 illustrates the position which the flexible backwall will assume when the body means is rotated in a counterclockwise direction.

it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that many i'nodifications may be made within the scope of the present invention without departing from the spirit thereof, and the invention includes all such modifications.

What is claimed is:

l. A barrel-type bucket reclaimer comprising an outer tubular body means, an inner tubular body means within said outer body means, channel-defining means connecting said outer and inner body means, conveyor means supported within said inner body means, and bucket means supported by said outer body means, said channel-defining means being in communication with said bucket means for receiving material therefrom, and the central axes of the channels formed by said channel-defining means each forming an angle with a radius of said body means passing through the center of said channel means.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said bucket means comprises a plurality of buckets disposed in annular rows about the outer periphery of said outer body means, there being a varying number of buckets in different rows.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 including ploughshare means supported by said outer body means adjacent said bucket means.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said bucket means includes first bucket means facing in one direction and second bucket means facing in an opposite direction so that said bucket means is operative in opposite directions of rotation of said body means, and channel-defining means connected with said body means in communication with each of said bucket means to receive material from said bucket means.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein adjacent bucket means facing in opposite directions are interconnected with one another and are swingable about an axis extending substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis of said body means.

6. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said bucket means includes a cutting means, and a flexible bucket backwall for enabling the bucket means to operate in opposite directions of rotation of the body means.

7. Apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein said flexible bucket backwall comprises a chain-type shutter means.

8. Apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein said flexible bucket backwall comprises a movable mat. 

1. A barrel-type bucket reclaimer comprising an outer tubular body means, an inner tubular body means within said outer body means, channel-defining means connecting said outer and inner body means, conveyor means supported within said inner body means, and bucket means supported by said outer body means, said channel-defining means being in communication with said bucket means for receiving material therefrom, and the central axes of the channels formed by said channel-defining means each forming an angle with a radius of said body means passing through the center of said channel means.
 2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said bucket means comprises a plurality of buckets disposed in annular rows about the outer periphery of said outer body means, there being a varying number of buckets in different rows.
 3. ApparaTus as defined in claim 1 including ploughshare means supported by said outer body means adjacent said bucket means.
 4. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said bucket means includes first bucket means facing in one direction and second bucket means facing in an opposite direction so that said bucket means is operative in opposite directions of rotation of said body means, and channel-defining means connected with said body means in communication with each of said bucket means to receive material from said bucket means.
 5. Apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein adjacent bucket means facing in opposite directions are interconnected with one another and are swingable about an axis extending substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis of said body means.
 6. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said bucket means includes a cutting means, and a flexible bucket backwall for enabling the bucket means to operate in opposite directions of rotation of the body means.
 7. Apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein said flexible bucket backwall comprises a chain-type shutter means.
 8. Apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein said flexible bucket backwall comprises a movable mat. 